Down in a Heap

Down in a Heap

By Rob cLeisureGames
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Down in a Heap episodes

  • OSR October #1, 2025

    A brief look at what fantasy books, movies and art developed my tastes in fantasy gaming. These are possibly what keep me focused on what you might call OSR gaming. My (abbreviated) Appendix N?

    11 min
  • Crowd Funding Projects: currently active and late ones

    I go through some current crowd funding campaigns: Castle Zagyg (Troll Lords), Ryecroft (Monkeyblood Design), Shadowdark Western Reaches (Arcane Library), Castles & Crusades Reforged. And I also run through the naughty list; projects I backed that are late: Mythic Bastionland, Scientific Barbarian, The Many Crypts of Lady Ingrade, and Harrowed Ground.

    37 min
  • Ambition & Avarice 1e Deep Dive 1

    The first in a deep dive series looking at the OSR game, Ambition & Avarice 1e by Greg Christopher of Chubby Funster Games published in 2012. I’m delving into what’s different about this compared to a more traditional TSR era game like Moldvay Cook/Marsh B/X (or Old School Essentials if you prefer). There are substantial differences, yet this is still very compatible with your old school adventures and supplements. In this episode, I focus on base task resolutions, and player characters. Both Ambition & Avarice 1e and 2e are available in print and pdf via DrivethruRPG. I’m confident you can all find them easily :).

    47 min
  • Campaign Diary 1: The Forsaken North

    When I recorded this, there wasn’t a real object, but after listening back, this is the start of a series I’ll keep doing as a sort of campaign diary. This will entail both the planning for The Forsaken North, and discussions about the new (for me) system I’ll be using: Ambition & Avarice 1e by Greg Christopher of Chubby Funster Games. Later entries might include session recaps or updates that develop out of our game sessions. Enjoy!

    19 min
  • OSR October: Ambition & Avarice 1e

    A tentative return to podcasting for OSR October, 2024. This is a rough one as I try to navigate the new recording approach without the benefit of my familiar Anchor app. A thumbnail look at the new system I’m going to try out: Ambition & Avarice by Greg Christopher.

    You can get a copy at DrivethruRPG: Chubby Funster Games.

    8 min
  • Knave 2e Review: the Final Episode?
    An armchair QB review of Knave 2e by Ben Milton of Questing Beast. It’s “ a flexible, classless rule set for players who scheme, strategize, and seek adventure.” It’s also closely compatible with most adventures and supplements of your favorite old school fantasy RPG. I go over the good, bad, and uncertain aspects I see (keeping in mind I haven’t played it) in this last ride of Down in a Heap. Thanks for all the fun over the years! Stay in touch: bigbalboni “at” gmail.com.
    1 hr 16 min
  • Halberds & Henchmen: a Retrospective
    I look back at my Frankenstein’s Monster of a hack from 2017, Halberds & Henchmen. What circumstances led to it, what the design goal was, what’s good, bad, and ugly about it? Also how I squandered the opportunity for it and what its future might be. Email me at bigbalboni “at” gmail to get any updates and/or PDFs of my work after the podcast.
    1 hr 7 min
  • Calamities!
    Add depth and uncertainty to your game setting by throwing in an occasional calamity that changes the landscape (political or actual). Inspired by the Advanced Civilization board game. Also calls from Jason & Spencer. Check out current Kickstarters for Castles & Crusades “Reforged” by Troll Lord Games (ends 7/9/24) and Gary’s Appendix Issue 6 by Jeffrey Jones of RPG Ramblings (ends 7/10/24).
    34 min
  • I’m Not Dead …I’m getting better :)
    Spotify extended the mobile app life until July 9th, so Down in a Heap lives on for another month. Calls from Jason and Riley provide discussion on attribute gains & losses, training, what’s going to happen after the podcast, and just why the heck is wearing helmets and armor not cool, and when, how, and why did this trend emerge? Send messages to bigbalboni “at” gmail. Thanks!
    44 min

About Down in a Heap

From the publisher's feed

A big pot of old school RPG stew.